NJ-SEN: Lautenberg, with universal name rec, a goner against Booker

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

He's almost 100-years-old!!! It's not a question about what he's done right or wrong, it's about the fact that he should retire already.

Well in that case we should've gotten rid of Teddy Kennedy, Orrin Hatch, Robert Byrd, and Daniel Inouye.

Well if Teddy had retired, then we never would have had Senator Scott Brown and the Dems could have held on to 60 theoretical votes in the Senate of the 111th Congress.

[Benj]

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He's almost 100-years-old!!! It's not a question about what he's done right or wrong, it's about the fact that he should retire already.

Well in that case we should've gotten rid of Teddy Kennedy, Orrin Hatch, Robert Byrd, and Daniel Inouye.

One can hardly say Ted Kennedy, Daniel Inouye or Robert Byrd were effective Senators in their final terms. In all three cases, it would have been far better if they had retired--or been retired--at the previous election, or at least that they had resigned before their deaths. "Senator" is not a sinecure that we award to people for public service. It is a position with a great deal of responsibilities that very elderly or ill individuals are frequently incapable of carrying out due to infirmity.

Orrin Hatch is not as old (comparable to Ted Kennedy at his last election but in better health), but he probably should have retired this year anyway. I would not have supported him in the primary if I were a Republican, assuming there was a solid alternative candidate who I liked.

[traininthedistance]

Lautenberg is probably the most passionate supporter of Amtrak we have in Congress today, and has been great on pretty much every other issue, too.

I'm aware that Booker is popular, that he would win a primary (and the general) easily, and that in the abstract it's probably better to have someone young move up, to replenish the bench and make sure we don't get stuck in a Scott Brown situation yadda yadda.  But Lautenberg is special, and losing him would be a pretty huge blow against a sane transportation policy in America.  I can't be happy about this, lonely as that sentiment may be.

[Simfan34]

You know, I do think it's fairly incredible that a state's senior senator can just be marginalised like this. I like Booker, but I think Lautenberg has served New Jersey for too long to be treated this way. It does seem he's lost all his allies though. If I were him, I'd stand my ground and make a show of things. Heck, I'd consider running as an independent or even a Republican. Yet again, I, as myself, would still vote for Booker.

Lautenberg is probably the most passionate supporter of Amtrak we have in Congress today, and has been great on pretty much every other issue, too.

Is he? Fat lot of good he's done.

[RogueBeaver]

Same thing happened to Lugar- just about everyone but Daniels abandoned him by the end. Lieberman had many Dems who promised to support the primary winner leave him. Anyhoo, there was an NBC4 report that Lautenberg had decided to retire but a spokesman has said that "it simply isn't true."

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Cory-Booker-NJ-Senate-Stanford-Column-Gays-Homophobia-186509291.html

https://twitter.com/ryanjreilly/status/289900946585182209

[Vosem]

Anyhoo, there was an NBC4 report that Lautenberg had decided to retire but a spokesman has said that "it simply isn't true."

It had better not be...

[Marokai Backbeat]

Anyhoo, there was an NBC4 report that Lautenberg had decided to retire but a spokesman has said that "it simply isn't true."

It had better not be...

Regardless of the outcome, your overall prediction accuracy number would still be in the single digits, so I wouldn't get your pretty little head too worried about it.

[traininthedistance]

You know, I do think it's fairly incredible that a state's senior senator can just be marginalised like this. I like Booker, but I think Lautenberg has served New Jersey for too long to be treated this way. It does seem he's lost all his allies though. If I were him, I'd stand my ground and make a show of things. Heck, I'd consider running as an independent or even a Republican. Yet again, I, as myself, would still vote for Booker.

Lautenberg is probably the most passionate supporter of Amtrak we have in Congress today, and has been great on pretty much every other issue, too.

Is he? Fat lot of good he's done.

He's faced a lot of headwind, especially recently.

FWIW, I'm not normally a huge fan of naming things after living politicians, but I make an exception for Secaucus Junction, which is named after, and only exists due to the good work of, Senator Lautenberg.

[Vosem]

Anyhoo, there was an NBC4 report that Lautenberg had decided to retire but a spokesman has said that "it simply isn't true."

It had better not be...

Regardless of the outcome, your overall prediction accuracy number would still be in the single digits, so I wouldn't get your pretty little head too worried about it.

Your three predictions recorded on Atlas average out to a B-, so I'm not sure I would brag. But I'll take your word for it.

[RogueBeaver]

Now Politico hinting that Lautenberg still may retire.

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/01/lautenberg-aides-rebut-retirement-report-86084.html?hp=l3

[Simfan34]

He's faced a lot of headwind, especially recently.

FWIW, I'm not normally a huge fan of naming things after living politicians, but I make an exception for Secaucus Junction, which is named after, and only exists due to the good work of, Senator Lautenberg.

Does it really? That's another thing that upset me about ARC- we needed that link between the NEC and the Bergen County Line, so that Secaucus Junction could have actually become a junction.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Lautenberg is not entitled to a seat for life. Really, remaining in the Senate when you're past 80 is pretty disrespectful toward your constituents.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

If Lautenberg were to serve another term, he would be ninety-six at the end of it.  Why is he even contemplating against retirement?

[morgieb]

If Lautenberg were to serve another term, he would be ninety-six at the end of it.  Why is he even contemplating against retirement?

He's a stubborn bastard. Apparently hated retirement and only wants to leave the Senate in a bodybag.

[politicallefty]

Lautenberg should retire. I'd easily support Booker in a primary. This seat is far too risky to even be temporarily filled by a Christie appointee, who would obviously be a party-line vote for Republicans.

[rejectamenta]

Hopefully he just retires. I have nothing but praise for Mr. Lautenberg and his service, and for that I hope he realizes the ship has sailed and bows out gracefully.

I don't necessarily have any issue with the advanced elderly serving in congress, but I do dislike the culture of entitlement amongst long lasting senators. Apparently if you serve for a long enough period of time, it becomes the job of constituents and fellow party members to serve you, your goals and your legacy. The Inouye camp did this, and with this statement it seems Lautenberg's may be primed to do the same. Ridiculous.

[Keystone Phil]

Uh, let's not forget that this is the same Frank Lautenberg that gained entry to the U.S. Senate (the first time around) by attacking his Republican opponent for being too old...and she was "only" in her 70s!

[Brittain33]

Not to be morbid, but looking it up, life expectancy for men at age 91 (January 2015) is 3.6 years.

[Vosem]

Uh, let's not forget that this is the same Frank Lautenberg that gained entry to the U.S. Senate (the first time around) by attacking his Republican opponent for being too old...and she was "only" in her 70s!

This is also the same Frank Lautenberg who fought the Nazis...

[Antonio the Sixth]

Uh, let's not forget that this is the same Frank Lautenberg that gained entry to the U.S. Senate (the first time around) by attacking his Republican opponent for being too old...and she was "only" in her 70s!

This is also the same Frank Lautenberg who fought the Nazis...

Clearly fighting the Nazis automatically grants a lifetime seat in the US Senate.

[Franzl]

Uh, let's not forget that this is the same Frank Lautenberg that gained entry to the U.S. Senate (the first time around) by attacking his Republican opponent for being too old...and she was "only" in her 70s!

This is also the same Frank Lautenberg who fought the Nazis...

I wouldn't go that far concerning Mitch McConnell and the Senate minority.

[Vosem]

Uh, let's not forget that this is the same Frank Lautenberg that gained entry to the U.S. Senate (the first time around) by attacking his Republican opponent for being too old...and she was "only" in her 70s!

This is also the same Frank Lautenberg who fought the Nazis...

Clearly fighting the Nazis automatically grants a lifetime seat in the US Senate.

No. But when there are just three final WW2 veterans left in Congress -- just one in the Senate -- and none of them are particularly offensive in any way and you consider the sacrifices made for all of us by those who fought in WW2, I personally think they've earned my enthusiastic support. As a trait becomes increasingly scarce, it should become increasingly valued. But the voters are free to disagree with me.

Uh, let's not forget that this is the same Frank Lautenberg that gained entry to the U.S. Senate (the first time around) by attacking his Republican opponent for being too old...and she was "only" in her 70s!

This is also the same Frank Lautenberg who fought the Nazis...

I wouldn't go that far concerning Mitch McConnell and the Senate minority.

Oh, Franzl, you're a riot.

[RogueBeaver]

It'll be a crowded primary.

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/01/assembly_speaker_sheila_oliver.html

[Keystone Phil]

Sheila Oliver? Oh. Oh, yes. Maybe 2014 will be the year when Dems throw away guaranteed wins! We better put up someone at least semi-credible in case she wins that primary!

[Antonio the Sixth]

Maybe 2014 will be the year when Dems throw away guaranteed wins!

That doesn't happen. They're not the GOP, after all.